time between oil changes

CJ4 · Mar 2, 2007

U guys are talking about oil analysis.....where do you get this done??? How much does it cost????

dmccarty · Mar 2, 2007

I have been using Blackstone Laboratories for years. A good number of people on a Ford Diesel website use them. I saw a comparison between labs a year or so ago and Blackstone was the best in the group.

They work for me. I am testing the tractor every oil change and the truck every other change.

Later,
Dan

DieselPower · Mar 2, 2007

Blackstone Laboratories is a good reputable lab. Wearcheck is another good analysis lab. WearCheck - Condition Monitoring through Oil Analysis .

At a much greater cost you can have a very good analysis done by Terry Dyson of Dyson Analysis. DYSON ANALYSIS Terry's lab cost are not cheap but he spends a great deal of time with each sample and does a very good job of going over the results. I have used his services before and he is top's in my book.

cp1969 · Mar 2, 2007

I think most Caterpillar dealerships offer oil analysis as well. It used to be free with an oil change but I don't know what it would cost if you didn't have them change the oil...probably the same as if they did.

KICK · Mar 3, 2007

I think for the average person who is operating their own personal vehicles, oil analysis is a waste of time .

borders on being termed OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE.

DieselPower · Mar 3, 2007

If you consider taking care of your equipment or vehicle obsessive compulsive then I guess it is.

I care about my vehicles and equipment and do everything in my power to make sure they last as long as they can. I paid darn good money for them.

CJ4 · Mar 3, 2007

Well I think at one point I wouldn't have considered an oil analysis until I've spent over $9,000 each on 2 of my IH 4300 trucks with the Dt466 engines that blew at less than 130,000 miles......now i'm interested!!! That got my attention!! Dealer still can't give me a good explanation of why the blew. Different drivers, good regular maintenance, obviously good oil (Rotella T)....Anyway, maybe there's something to it or at least maybe it could tell me something before an engine blows.

KICK · Mar 4, 2007

Diesel Power missed the point.

I didn't say a darn thing about not maintaining the vehicle.

my only point is that it is a waste of time/cash for the average owner with one or two vehicles to go that route.

its 20 bucks to test the oil and its 25 bucks to change the oil.

don't have to be a rocket scientist.

change the oil instead.

KICK · Mar 4, 2007

CJ4 said:
Well I think at one point I wouldn't have considered an oil analysis until I've spent over $9,000 each on 2 of my IH 4300 trucks with the Dt466 engines that blew at less than 130,000 miles......now i'm interested!!! That got my attention!! Dealer still can't give me a good explanation of why the blew. Different drivers, good regular maintenance, obviously good oil (Rotella T)....Anyway, maybe there's something to it or at least maybe it could tell me something before an engine blows.

something else going on... I would expect a Dealer to give me a better explanation than "the engine blew".

an engine doesn't blow. it is not a grenade.

it could have spun a bearing, or scored a piston, or ????? but two diesel engines of the same type failing with that few miles on them is an indication of something else.

DieselPower · Mar 4, 2007

KICK said:
Diesel Power missed the point.

I didn't say a darn thing about not maintaining the vehicle.

my only point is that it is a waste of time/cash for the average owner with one or two vehicles to go that route.

its 20 bucks to test the oil and its 25 bucks to change the oil.

don't have to be a rocket scientist.

change the oil instead.

And it's how much to overhaul a engine? And nowhere did I say anything about not maintaining the vehicle. I said I do everything in my power to make sure they last as long as they can.

CJ4 - Oil analysis is well worth the money, especially for commercial trucks. In addition to giving you the ability to extend oil change intervals to a optimum point it can catch all kinds of problems. Oil cooler leaking? It will show antifreeze in the UOA and probably copper. Cylinder liner leaking? It will show antifreeze and no copper. Silicon count starting to rise, you probably have a air filter with a hole in it or leak in your air intake somewhere. Chromium and iron levels starting to rise, probably piston ring's and cylinder liners. Aluminum, Lead and Tin, bearing's are starting to wear.

There are numerous problems you can find early and long before they become a catastrophic failure. It is NOT a waste of money and IS considered good maintenance practice. Probably why all the medium/heavy truck dealers in my area (including the International truck dealer) do UOA's when they do a LOF, it's not a option it's just included in the price of the LOF.